The naked truth about Occupy’s ‘Pantsless Nick’

Tools

I spoke to “Pantsless Nick” at the Occupy San Francisco encampment and he is respectfully requesting a correction to what was written about him in your Nov. 16 cover story.

Nick was not pantsless on the night your reporter visited our camp. Nick had on his short shorts, as any number of independent observers can testify. He strips down when he works up a sweat keeping the peace. As a former Marine, he is respected, trusted and loved for, among his other sterling qualities, for being the voice of reason late into the night.

While we’re pleased The San Francisco Examiner reported from camp with boots on the ground, we don’t believe “any press is good press.” Your reporting makes a critical difference.

Carlos Saavedra, San Francisco

Cruel and inefficient

I agree with your Nov. 15 letter, “Waterboarding too cruel,” which called waterboarding illegal and unbecoming a civilized society. Also, it doesn’t even work.

Those who really know maintain that not only doesn’t it work, but waterboarding is counterproductive. The practice generates false results and sends interrogators off in wrong directions, wasting valuable time.

More deliberate, intelligent methods produce more reliable and actionable information. In addition, barbaric and unenlightened practices such as waterboarding serve as an effective recruiting tool for our enemies, supporting their allegation that we are worthy of obliteration.

Jorg Aadahl, San Mateo

Pipeline’s critical impact

Your coverage of the debate over the Keystone oil pipeline downplayed two critical facts. The environmental issue at hand is not insignificant — in fact, it is huge. TransCanada wants to build its pipeline across the Ogallala Aquifer, which provides the water supply for several states in the Midwest. This aquifer is recognized as critical to a large part of the United States and has been protected for centuries. The potential for disaster is downright scary.

TransCanada absolutely could build this pipeline around the aquifer. They’ve done it before, and should do it again. They could provide jobs and lower our dependence on foreign oil, which you mentioned. But a detour route would lower their profits, and that’s what this is really all about.

President Barack Obama did the right thing by requiring a new environmental impact report for a safer alternate route.